Appointments Made To Two County Authorities
Freeman House in east Coudersport was the first major public housing project of the Potter County Housing Authority.
Potter County Commissioners Nancy Grupp, Robert Rossman and Paul Heimel have filled vacancies on agencies that provide safe and affordable housing for the underprivileged and promote economic development. Ron Rapp, recently retired chief financial officer at UPMC Cole, was named to the Housing Authority. Steve Green, a retired environmental manager whose career spanned major industries, and involved interaction with public, government, regulatory and legal sectors, was appointed to the Redevelopment Authority. In recent years, Green has served as president and CEO of the Eliot Ness Museum in Coudersport. Rapp and Green are filling the unexpired terms of Ellen Russell, who served on both authorities.
Mission of the Potter County Housing Authority is to provide safe and affordable homes for low-income residents of Potter County (under the Pa. Housing Authorities Act of 1937, with modifications in 1970 and 1996). The agency operates a housing assistance program (rent subsidies) funded by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Additionally, PCHA operates two apartment complexes for low-income tenants, one in Ulysses (18 units) and the other in Galeton (15 units). Also, the authority has three apartment units for senior citizens or the disabled: Freeman House (Coudersport), Redwood Village (Galeton) and Honeoye Haven (Shinglehouse). Housing Authorities can, at their discretion, take on other initiatives to provide safe and affordable housing.
Meanwhile, the mission of the Potter County Redevelopment Authority is to encourage, support and facilitate economic development and community revitalization; eliminate blight and dangerous conditions; assist local businesses with obtaining the capital they need to invest and expand, and other activities as determined by its five appointees. Among the agency’s many projects over the years was the Truck-Lite manufacturing plant (see below) in the Coudersport Industrial Park, which was expanded in 2021.
Authority members are appointed by the commissioners. Each is an independent agency. Members are responsible for developing policies, initiatives and directives, direct supervision of managerial personnel, and accountability to the public. Service on the authority is voluntary with no compensation. Applicants for appointment are to be motivated by dedication to public service.
